Help with choosing the right platform.

[grifter]

Thanks for all of the input.

Buswarior: I see what your saying about the slides, getting them to seal, and work reliably will be a difficult hill to climb, learning from people that have built them before and have put them through their paces will be important.

Chessie4405: I know what you mean about seeing RV's with slides in.  My current Sightseer has 2 slides, both on the same side.  The slides also don't protrude excessively from the side of the RV.  This allows the RV to still be usable with the slides in.  I imagine units with 3 slides are pretty tight with the slides in.

Sledhead: your slide looks great.  Do you have any photos of the manufacturing process... maybe something with the framework visible?

lcmci: Sounds great, i live in Canada, Las Vegas isn't too far away.  I have imported a few vehicles over the years and its not without its challenges.  If the vehicle still runs and drives its much easier and will just require an inspection when it gets here.  So tires/windshield/brakes/lights/horn/bushings/etc all have to be perfect within a short window of it being imported or they will require it be exported back to the USA.

[DoubleEagle]

Doing your own conversion is appealing within the confines of your own mind, but in reality, it will take a long, long time. Economically, it does not make sense, given the prices of decent conversions for sale. Let someone else pay for all those wonderful upgrades. Buy a conversion for pennies on the original dollars, and make subtle changes over time to make it yours. The layouts on most conversions are very similar, despite all the attempts to be original. Be practical and consider MCI's, Prevost's will suck your money up quickly, their air bag valve system is a nightmare of complexity. 

[kyle4501]

Buy a conversion for pennies on the original dollars, and make subtle changes over time to make it yours.

Is there a reason you want a Prevost over the other brands ?
Are you going to need more than average ground clearance ?
Are slides really needed? Sometimes, less clunky furniture & trim can diminish the need for extra width . . . .
The cost of a shop & tools will be substantial.

As others have said - the opinions of you & the Admiral are the only ones that matter.

[jozef]

Very recently I was looking at purchasing a late 1990's Prevost H3-41.  My offer was rejected but I was prepared to meet the asking price when I decided to investigate whether I could get opening side windows with screens.  Peninsula Glass used to manufacture windows that replaced the curved H3-41 side windows but when I contacted them they indicated that they no longer manufacture windows for Prevost H3 buses.  Further searches found no windows.  I contacted the Prevost builders forum and inquired there about where I could source the side windows.  The only response I received was to buy them from Prevost.  On contacting Prevost Parts,  the person indicated opening windows were available but they were a little pricey.  List price is $16,000 per window but they would sell them for $8,000 each.  As I would need 4 to 6 windows that was an atrocious cost just for windows. 

Maybe others are aware of a source for Prevost side windows but I have given up on purchasing a Prevost H3-41, although I very much like the look of that unit.  I am now looking for a late 1990's MCI 102D3 but it must be rust free.

[luvrbus]

There is a 2001 H-45 entertainer with bunks for sale on F/B he asking a 100k and I bet 80 to 85k will buy it,those are not hard to change floor plans and usually have everything shower,bathroom,tanks, generator and so on     

[lvmci]

The Prevost I was talking about looks like the picture on your fourth topic reply, he said the engine worked great when he pulled it into his bus barn, and it's surrounded by all kinds of parts utilities, cabinets, air conditioners, everything you might imagine, I hope you got my private message , lvmci...

[Van]

Plenty of Frenchy busses on Ebay motors waiting for a home,some 80 percent completed most with the 60 series.

[robertglines1]

Slides require  some mechanical ability. I'm on 4th and last. Do lean toward Prevost for modifications. Plus I like the stainless riveted coach.. 60 series with 10sp Eaton auto shift. Haven't been to 10th yet- start in third set back and watch traffic. Visit prevostcar.com.. check out their website site. Circuit is and wires are numbered on Prevost. Guide available to you coach specific.  haven't seen any Prevost with engine on ground from rusted frame. windshields less than $200 delivered to you(xle) Entertaner coach would really have to be very low mileage.  H series when they catch fire basically burn to ground. BW and others will get kicked out of this post! I have done MCI and prevost. If you parked for 6 weeks slides are great. Down road would preferred not to have them.. 60 series -- no doubt unless you can get Cat engine..air system on Prevost =keep it moisture free--norgren valves can be refurbish for $11 each or bought new for $60.Mileage  18mpg--  9 there and 9 back=18. some have flurted with  elusive 10 mpg-- I plan on 7-8.

[robertglines1]

build time over 1/2 dedicated to slides.

[grifter]

There is a 2001 H-45 entertainer with bunks for sale on F/B he asking a 100k and I bet 80 to 85k will buy it,those are not hard to change floor plans and usually have everything shower,bathroom,tanks, generator and so on   

I dont have face book, where is this unit? What facebook page is it on, i can get my wife to look it up. do you have more information about it that you can send me?

All of the information you guys have been posting is great.  I like the Prevost chassis for a few reasons, most of all is how it looks quite frankly.  I have never been a fan  of the stainless steel look or buses that have an older look to them.  Second i have read a lot of good things about their quality.  I never even considered windows that open however i have seen some mods where the rear windows are replaced with RV windows that dont curve over the top and that does look pretty good.

Kyle4501: Ground clearance is a concern.  My Current RV is quite high and i do scrape occasionally when entering parking lots or trying to get into some campsites.  The thought of getting high centered is a bit of a fear of mine.

I'm still not sold on the idea of slides, I started drawing some scale(ish) diagrams of possible layouts to get a better idea of what i can do with or without slides.  The Master bedroom seems to be the hardest to configure while still having room around the Bed and a place to hang clothing.  Having a slide in the bedroom really helps, when the slide is in the bed touches the cabinets, opening the slide gives that extra space to open the cabinets and walk around the bed.

Does anyone know the interior dimensions of the raw H-45 and H-41 shell?  How much is lost to the engine cavity and the front driver area?  I made some guesses but accurate numbers will be better for drawing out possible floor plans. 

[Van]

Where are you located?

[luvrbus]

I dont have face book, where is this unit? What facebook page is it on, i can get my wife to look it up. do you have more information about it that you can send me?

All of the information you guys have been posting is great.  I like the Prevost chassis for a few reasons, most of all is how it looks quite frankly.  I have never been a fan  of the stainless steel look or buses that have an older look to them.  Second i have read a lot of good things about their quality.  I never even considered windows that open however i have seen some mods where the rear windows are replaced with RV windows that dont curve over the top and that does look pretty good. 





The H-45 for sale is located in Jones OK look on Facebook Market Place ,the H-45 is a heavy sucker on the front axle and the passenger H-45 will have a straight front axle not a IFS
,if converting I would prefer the H models also even with the fiberglass siding the thing I don't like is the roof not being 1 level on the outside .
Even with the series 60 DD and the Alllison you  need to watch the mileage and get all the records the series 60 usually are on their last leg in a bus at 600 to 700,000 miles and the Allison either the B500 or 4000 series the life span on one is around 400 to 500,000 miles   

Kyle4501: Ground clearance is a concern.  My Current RV is quite high and i do scrape occasionally when entering parking lots or trying to get into some campsites.  The thought of getting high centered is a bit of a fear of mine.

I'm still not sold on the idea of slides, I started drawing some scale(ish) diagrams of possible layouts to get a better idea of what i can do with or without slides.  The Master bedroom seems to be the hardest to configure while still having room around the Bed and a place to hang clothing.  Having a slide in the bedroom really helps, when the slide is in the bed touches the cabinets, opening the slide gives that extra space to open the cabinets and walk around the bed.

Does anyone know the interior dimensions of the raw H-45 and H-41 shell?  How much is lost to the engine cavity and the front driver area?  I made some guesses but accurate numbers will be better for drawing out possible floor plans.

[luvrbus]

LOL I posted the location of the H for sale in the middle of the last post and do not know how to move it  you may get the lower section windsheilds for 200 bucks on a H on sale but don't bank on it those are a pain to install

[grifter]

LOL I posted the location of the H for sale in the middle of the last post and do not know how to move it 

No worries i found your response in the middle :-) 

Where are you located?

Calgary Alberta Canada

[lvmci]

What about A slide out the back above the engine for the bed, if your bus radiator is on the side below..